Morten strode to the chart table and switched on the light. A tiny red spot showed their current position. Just ahead lay the planet that almost touched their trajectory. “You’re right, Free. That’s our only chance. I hope it’s habitable.” He began punching a series of buttons at the edge of the chart table, and then he strode to the communication panel and flipped a switch.
“What’s that?” asked Free.
“I just put the coordinates of this planet on a tape and set up a distress signal that will be transmitted automatically. We can only hope that a Patrol ship may be somewhere in this sector and hear our call.”
“What if they don’t?”
“We’ll be here a long, long while.”
Arlee was standing by the door of the companionway. She watched Morten as he diagnosed their difficulty and sent out the e
